SWIMMER’S EAR

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an infection of the ear canal.  When the ear canals stay wet constantly, as with swimming, they offer a hospitable medium in which bacteria and/or fungus can grow.  The symptoms of otitis externa are itchy, painful ear canals, pain when the earlobe is moved and slight discharge.

Several measures help prevent infection, mainly by keeping the ear canal as dry as possible.  After swimming, have your child shake excess water out of his/her ears, then dry the ears with a towel or wash cloth.  You can also use one of the over-the-counter ear drops, either “Swim-ear” or “Auro-dri,” which are put in the ears after a session of swimming or the end of the day of swimming.

If your child does develop symptoms, we should examine his/her ears to make a proper diagnosis and prescribe the necessary antibiotic drops, which are usually taken for 5-7 days.  The child should not swim for at least 48-72 hours or until the pain has stopped.  They may shower and bathe normally.

INTERNET SAFETY

Many of us, including our children use computers and the internet at home.  The internet opens up a world of information, much of which is good and allows us and our children to learn so much.  However, there are precautions which need to be taken.

You should remind your children of the following:

• Online information is usually not private.
• People are not always honest about who they are online.
• Anyone can put anything online.
• Not everything online is truthful.
• There is pornographic, obscene, violent and racist material on the internet, which may pop up unexpectedly.

There are rules you should set regarding computer/internet usage with your children. These involve setting time limits, both for safety reasons and to prevent the computer from taking place of homework and time with friends and family and other activities, such as sports or other organized activities.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 2 hours of  TV/computer in a day.  The other rules involve safety, such as:

• Never give out personal information unless approved by a parent
• Don’t share passwords with anyone.
• Don’t ever meet with someone you have met from an online relationship.
• Don’t respond to messages that make you feel uncomfortable. You should ignore those messages and tell a parent.
• Don’t email or upload cell phone photos or other personal photos.

Other ways that you can help create a safe internet environment are:

• Sit with your young children and “Surf” the internet with them.

• Have your computer in a room where you will also be, never in a room where your child will be alone, especially with the door closed.

• Use tracking software and filtering software (in addition to direct supervision).

• Know what the internet policies are at your child’s school and at the library.

Your children should also behave online.  They shouldn’t send mean messages, use the internet to make someone look bad or plagiarize.

SWIMMER’S ITCH

Swimmer’s itch, also known as “duck itch” or “sea lice” is a dermatitis contracted by swimming in some lakes, rivers and ponds.  It is an itchy rash which can appear anywhere on the body.  The rash is bumpy and sometimes blisters.  It is caused by the larvae of certain worms when it penetrates the skin. The worms are carried by various water birds, ducks and geese.  These worms produce eggs which then invade snails or other molluscans.  They then are shed into the water where humans can be exposed.

They do not produce any further disease in humans.  The treatment is symptomatic, with oral antihistamines or topical anti-itching medications.

HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Hand, foot and mouth disease, caused by Coxsackie A virus, is a common summer viral illness.  Symptoms are small ulcers in the mouth, which can be painful, and blisters or red spots on the palms, soles and between the fingers and toes.  The child may also have a rash on the buttocks and a low grade fever.  These symptoms usually resolve in 3-7 days.

The illness is quite contagious especially to family members and your child’s playmates. The incubation period (time between exposure and onset of illness) is 3-6 days.

The only complication is dehydration, which may occur because, if the mouth sores are painful, your child may not want to drink.  It is important, therefore, to make sure he/she drinks enough.  Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) is usually effective in treating the pain and fever.

If your child has severe pain and /or is not drinking well, please call our office.

44 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432            (201) 444-8389

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